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#REDIRECT [[Modular programming]]
In [[computing]], a '''module''' is a software entity that groups a set of (typically [[Cohesion|cohesive]]) [[subprogram]]s and [[data structure]]s. Modules promote encapsulation (i.e. [[information hiding]]) through a separation between the [[interface]] and the [[implementation]].
The module interface expresses the elements that are provided and required by the module. The elements defined in the interface are visible to other modules. The implementation contains the working code that corresponds to the elements declared in the interface.
Modules are units that can be compiled separately. This makes them reusable and allows multiple actors to work on different modules simultaneously.
Differences between [[Class_(computer_science)|classes]] and modules are the following:
* Classes can be instantiated to create [[Object_(computer_science)|objects]],
* Classes can [[Inheritance_(object-oriented_programming)|inherit]] behavior and data from another class,
* [[Polymorphism_(computer_science)|Polymorphism]] allows relationships between class instances to change at run-time, while relations between modules are static.
Languages that explicitly support the module concept include [[Ada programming language|Ada]], [[D_programming_language|D]], [[F programming language|F]], [[Fortran|Fortran]], [[Haskell_programming_language|Haskell]], [[ML_programming_language|ML]] and [[Modula-2]].
'''Module Interconnection Languages (MILs)''' provide formal grammar constructs for deciding the various module interconnection specifications required to assemble a complete software system. MILs enable the separation between programming-in-the-small and programming-in-the-large. Coding a module represents programming in the small, while assembling a system with the help of a MIL represents programming in the large. An example of MIL is MIL-75.
== See also ==
* [[Wikibooks:Programming:Ada:Packages]] - How modules are implemented in [[Ada programming language|Ada]].
[[fr:Module (programmation)]]
[[Category:Programming]]
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